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Types of “false” rape accusations

I’m not going to deny that there is the rare woman who falsely accuses a man of rape. Sure, it happens. But men are also fond of painting women as rapists in equal number to male rapists. That means if men aren’t constantly being raped then they are being falsely accused of rape, which doesn’t make sense – you can’t have it both ways. Rapists who were raped themselves do exist, but the “they were abused in the past (by parents, etc.)” is not an excuse, and more often than not the rapists are men who have never been abused and some are the one-time-only type of rapist.

There are 3 other types of “false” rape accusations, which happen far more often. For that reason, I am going to mention them. I have read another list, but most of those listed were actually subheadings of “falsely accusing Bob of rape,” so here is my own.

1.) Woman accuses the wrong man, or there is an error in investigating DNA evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of the wrong man.

Racism may also be involved. It is easier for a white woman who is raped to get sympathy and support if she can say she was raped by a black or Latino man. The role racism still plays is very important and I’m surprised it is not mentioned more often.

2.) Woman does not have enough evidence to continue with an investigation and prosecution in a criminal court. She may or may not decide to prosecute in a civil court case.

This is where the case is outright dropped by police. For a civil case, there is much less requirement of evidence. However, it needs to be said (from my own personal knowledge) that police will not consider a recorded phone call as evidence unless the rapist actually admits what he did was rape, and most rapists do not consider themselves to be in the wrong; therein lies the biggest issue. If he apologizes for “hurting” the victim, that somehow does not count to them. He’s then let off the hook.

3.) Woman has enough evidence and decides to prosecute in a criminal case, but then later recants the charge.

This can be due to many things: guilt or shame and other feelings of emotional distress, public/peer/family persecution, job difficulties, or being harassed and violently threatened to recant. I wish that full support and protection could be given to the victim so she would not feel the need to recant the charge.

The one common thing all 3 have in common is that neither mean the rape didn’t happen.